First-time flyers trouble India

Flying is a new experience for many Indians

Inexperienced flyers are causing a few headaches for India's budget airlines, with one carrier reporting a passenger trying to open a door mid-flight.

India's rapid economic growth has made air travel an option for many more people, as a host of new airlines have taken to the skies in recent years.

But the burgeoning demand for flying has brought its own problems.

A report by one airline revealed that passengers trying to have a chat with a pilot forced an emergency landing.

Frustrated passengers

India is one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets, but the surge in demand has led to chaotic scenes on flights, with some people struggling to overcome their nerves and adapt to flying etiquette.

According to a report seen by the BBC, a series of recent incidents have highlighted the "growing menace of unruly passengers in India".

Lack of food and nicotine, long delays due to congestion, fog or whatever can frustrate people Ajay Jasra, Spicejet

On one occasion, a passenger tried to open a door shortly before take-off while a flight circling around Delhi was forced to make an emergency landing after a group of passengers approached the cockpit to complain.

The BBC's Damian Grammaticas said one airport manager quoted in the report said troublemakers were often first-time fliers, but bureaucrats, politicians and other professionals had also proved unruly.

The report recommends that people should be taught the do's and don'ts of air travel and that airlines should be able to breathalyse passengers before boarding if they seem drunk.

Ajay Jasra, from budget carrier Spicejet, told the BBC that there were many reasons why passengers became disturbed.

"Inadequate airport infrastructure, lack of food and nicotine, long delays due to congestion, fog or whatever can frustrate people," he said.